San Diego zoo

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

I’m on a little vacay and was at the San Diego zoo yesterday and they had some pretty cool fish. First, African cichlids were everywhere. In a lot of exhibits with African animals they were in the water even with a crocodile in one of them.



next, they had an Asian arowana which I don’t know how they got as they’re illegal in the us. And he didn’t look to be in the best of care

in the arowana they also had a huge South American lungfish which I missed getting a pic of sadly. Looked to be 2 and 1/2 to 3 ft long.

Lastly, they had these fish in with the hippos which I think are some kind of tigerfish? Can anyone identify?

 

[tlindsey]

I’m on a little vacay and was at the San Diego zoo yesterday and they had some pretty cool fish. First, African cichlids were everywhere. In a lot of exhibits with African animals they were in the water even with a crocodile in one of them.

View attachment 1554595

next, they had an Asian arowana which I don’t know how they got as they’re illegal in the us. And he didn’t look to be in the best of careView attachment 1554596View attachment 1554597

in the arowana they also had a huge South American lungfish which I missed getting a pic of sadly. Looked to be 2 and 1/2 to 3 ft long.

Lastly, they had these fish in with the hippos which I think are some kind of tigerfish? Can anyone identify? View attachment 1554598View attachment 1554600

View attachment 1554599

Definitely a tigerfish species.

 

[Sassafras]

Memphis Zoo has various Mbuna and Tilapia species in their hippo exhibit. Arowana does look pretty sad! I'm sure that, if allowed, most U.S. MFK hobbyists could do much better.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

Definitely a tigerfish species.

that’s what I was thinking to

Memphis Zoo has various Mbuna and Tilapia species in their hippo exhibit. Arowana does look pretty sad! I'm sure that, if allowed, most U.S. MFK hobbyists could do much better.

I was thinking it was pretty interesting to have fish in all the animal enclosures, especially the bigger ones such as the hippos. They must have some excellent filtration to make sure that’s clean water.
When I saw the arowana, I was like “ if only these weren’t illegal someone could be taking much better care of him right now”

 

[Loganfish]

Official zoos and aquariums can get permits/permission form the government. I think it has to do with an educator’s permit or something.

 

[CichlidFiend]

usually what they seize or recover from the endangered species act or cites violations will be kept at a facility that is already permitted to be displaying restricted species, which is usually a public zoo or aquarium, or university while the investigations and trials are going on
im guessin that arowana has a pretty interesting story on how it ended up in the zoo, afiak even if an aquarium wanted to display asian arowana they would also have to find a completely legal sustainably sourced fish, they wouldnt just be able to head down to the local chinese aquarium trade show and buy one from a random uncle

 

[spotfin]

Thanks for sharing the pics. I hope to get back there some day. Was there on a family trip, probably 40 + years ago...
I believe there is a type of fish that lives in close proximity to hippos. The fish feeds off of their excrement and algae.

 

[Chet E.]

One of my favorite memories was at the Hippo Exhibit in San Diego. A young mom was pointing out the tilapia and her son was noticing them eating the stuff floating in the water. Just then, the hippo stepped down into the water, belly deep its tail began flapping away as the manure pushed out. The spread of manure was impressive, but the reaction of the young mom was priceless.
.
That was many years ago. Perhaps the atf's were included to manage the tilapia population?

 

[CichlidFiend]

the steinhart aquarium in the california academy of sciences is my all time favorite amazon exhibit, if you can deal with the san fran traffic i highly recommend msking that a priority for a california trip

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

One of my favorite memories was at the Hippo Exhibit in San Diego. A young mom was pointing out the tilapia and her son was noticing them eating the stuff floating in the water. Just then, the hippo stepped down into the water, belly deep its tail began flapping away as the manure pushed out. The spread of manure was impressive, but the reaction of the young mom was priceless.
.
That was many years ago. Perhaps the atf's were included to manage the tilapia population?

maybe they were? If so they did a great job I didn’t see any tilapia.

the steinhart aquarium in the california academy of sciences is my all time favorite amazon exhibit, if you can deal with the san fran traffic i highly recommend msking that a priority for a california trip

I just looked at some pics and that place looks awesome!! But it’s a little far away at 7 and a half hours from we’re I’m at and I don’t think my fam will want to drive that far.